DZsocial

A discussion about the future of our sport as a business and the things that we can improve.

 

1. We as skydivers, instructors and DZOs need to ensure the survival of the sport.
2. We can only do this by providing the customer with:
   a. Quality service and instruction.
   b. Our goal should be to create skydivers, not just how to skydive.
   c. Continuing education for experienced skydivers.
   d. Getting rid of the old school thought process is very important.
   e. Mentoring.
   f. A well-developed student program with well-trained instructors. 
   g. Your instructors must care about the out come of the students’ progression.
   h. Involving tandem students in the training.
   i. The appearance of the facilities and the staff.
   j. The knowledge and experience of the staff.
   k. Time management.
   l. Activity and camaraderie.
3. We are going to explore all these subjects, and find ways to make our world better.
4. We are only going to talk about some basic concepts.
5. First we are going to build a business model and pick it a part.

 

A.  The DZ

1.  This consists of the ownership, management, the facilities, equipment, the location, and aircraft and the instructional staff.
2.  What is the survivability of the Drop Zones?
a.  Income generated by tandems and students, tandems are the quick income.
3.  The cleanliness off the drop zone gives your customers confidence in the business and make your drop zone look like a business.
4.  The environment should be organized, the staff well educated on the operation and the student program.
5.  The staff should look and act professional.
6.  Your gear should be well maintained and clean.

 

B.  Tandem and Student Program

1.  Tandems generate quick income with minimal staffing.  Most of the Drop Zones income is generated this way.  Most DZOs will gear their DZs towards tandems.  USPA has stated that less then one percent of the tandems done in the U.S. comes back to start some type of student program.

• a.  What does this tell us?
• b.  Why are only such a small percent coming back to learn how to skydive?

2.  Tandems have introduced more people to skydiving then any other method of skydiving instruction. Some reasons:

• a.  Most drop zones run tandem students through as fast as they can.
• b.  The students, instructors and drop zones treat the jump as a carnival ride.
• c.  Poor time management by the office staff.
• d.  Poor staffing by the drop zone manager.
• e.  Students really don’t know what to expect due to poor training and education by the instructors.
• f.  Instructors and other staff members don’t motivate tandem students after their experience.
• g.  By definition tandem passengers are students, and we need to involve them in the training, i.e. giving them an altimeter and teaching them how to read it.  Allow them to deploy, give them canopy classes under the parachute. DO NOT RUSH THEM THROUGH and have an instructor work with them on the ground, not an experienced jumper.
• h.  Proper staffing will allow students time to work with their instructors and give more interaction before and after the jump.  This helps with the students’ comfort level.  It is not very comforting for the student to see an instructor drop a rig on the ground and meet the student for the first time in the loading area, and when they land run off to the next student.
• h.  We need to schedule students in a timely manner so they do not waste a whole day at the dz.

 

C.  The student Program

1.  Students in a whole do not generate profit to a drop zone until about jump number 3, at this point they are dedicated to becoming a licensed skydiver.  When you add advertising, paying office staff, utilities and the pilot we really don’t see an income until we have them hooked.
2.  Again USPA has stated that less then eight percent of the people who start some type of student program go on to get their license.  This is a very small number. Fist of all, the student programs are not teaching our customers HOW TO BECOME A SKYDIVERS they teach them the bare minimums to make a skydive.
3.  There is more to skydiving then just leaving an aircraft and deploying, we need to remember that, and not just look at how fast we can get them trough.
4.  Student want to learn everything they can, and we spend time and teach them every aspect of the sport they appreciate it and feel they are getting their moneys worth, not to include they have more comfort because they feel safer.

• The instructors are not spending time with the students, and training them correctly.
• Skydiving is expensive, and our customers can’t afford to repeat skydives over and over.  They are also not as stupid as we might think.  They will eventually figure out that they are not getting what they are paying for.

• If your student program is good it will motivate your up jumpers into becoming your coaches, tandem instructors and your method specific instructors.

 

D.  Experienced Jumpers

a.  STUDENTS BECOME OUR EXPERIENCED JUMPERS, AND THEY FILL OUR PLANES; THEY ALSO CREATE ACTIVITY AND CAMARADERIE.

• 1.  The activity that is created by experienced jumpers helps motivate students (tandems and method specific students, AFF, Static-Line and IAD).
• 2.  They help fill airplanes so we can keep or profits from tandems and students.
• 3.  They bring students.
• 4.  They become your part time staff, or your full time staff for weekend drop zones.
• 5.  They help promote your student programs to future students.
• 6.  We hear all the time from DZOs that experienced jumper cost the drop zone money, this is true to an extent, and the benefits out weigh the cost.

b.  PEOPLE SKYDIVE FOR THE SOCIAL ASPECT TOO.

 

E.  Experienced Jumpers, Competitors, Coach/Instructors

1.  Your experience jumper will become one of three things:

• a.  Stay experienced jumpers.
• b.  Become a competitor at some level and discipline.
• c.  Or become your staff.
• d.  They might even be a competitor and a staff member.

2.  If your student program is top notch it helps motivate your jumpers into becoming your part time staff.  They see or remember how much they learned and feel they want to give back to the sport.
3.  This is the reason for the arrow from your staff to your student program on the model.
4.  This now completes the circle, a drop zone should be able to support it self.  The only exception is for a busy drop zone is to bring in full time help; this is another topic of discussion.
5.  I understand that there is a lot more factors, but let us start with the basics.

So again, what is the survival of the sport of skydiving?
SKYDIVERS are the survival of the sport of skydiving.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE LONG FACTS FOR THE SPORT OF SKYDVING, AND NOT THE QUICK MONEY ALONE.